When I first introduced Boomwhackers to my kindergarten dance class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen them used in music rooms and professional development workshops, but this was a room full of 5-year-olds who could barely keep their shoes on, let alone follow a rhythmic pattern. But something magical happened when we began our lesson, eyes lit up, little hands grasped colorful tubes, and our entire classroom was a vibrant, pulsing drum circle of joy.
As a dance educator in a public school setting, I’m always looking for ways to blend movement and music, to teach foundational concepts in ways that are developmentally appropriate, engaging, and rooted in fun. Boomwhackers, those brightly colored, pitched percussion tubes, have become one of my favorite tools for exploring rhythm with young learners.
Rhythm is one of the key elements of dance, and it’s also deeply connected to literacy, pattern recognition, and executive functioning. I like to begin rhythm work early in the school year so students can begin to feel, hear, and eventually move with the beat. Using Boomwhackers in the dance classroom lets us experience rhythm in a full-body way. Hearing it, seeing it, and feeling it through both movement and sound.
Why Boomwhackers Work So Well for Kindergarten
Boomwhackers are tactile, visual, and auditory, all at once. They’re color-coded by pitch, which makes them perfect for non-readers or early readers. Kindergarteners love the fact that they can make music and movement happen at the same time. They can strike them on the floor, their own bodies (gently!), or even in the air.
The structured chaos of a Boomwhacker lesson might look a little wild from the outside, but inside the room, you’ll see students actively engaged in patterning, counting, following directions, and collaborating. And most importantly, they’re moving with purpose.
If you’re teaching in a public school like I was, chances are you have to make the most of limited class time, classroom management expectations, and often, shared equipment. That’s why I’ve created a simple, reusable lesson plan you can modify to fit your space and schedule.
Kindergarten Rhythm & Movement Lesson Plan
Theme: Exploring Steady Beat with Boomwhackers
Grade: Kindergarten
Length: 30 minutes
Standards: Aligned with National Core Arts Standards and developmentally appropriate for K–1
Objectives:
- Students will demonstrate understanding of a steady beat.
- Students will explore rhythm through sound and movement.
- Students will follow visual and auditory cues in a group activity.
Materials:
- Boomwhackers (at least one per child, or per pair)
- Simple rhythm cards or a whiteboard
- Upbeat instrumental music with a steady beat (e.g. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, or instrumental world music)
- Floor dots or tape to mark spots
Warm-Up (5 minutes):
Begin with a simple movement warm-up to music. Clap, march, tiptoe, or freeze on the beat. Use call-and-response to cue them in:
Teacher: “Can you march with the music?”
Students: (March with music)
Introduction to Boomwhackers (5 minutes):
Pass out Boomwhackers. Ask:
– “What do you notice about the colors?”
– “What sound does it make when you tap it on the floor?”
Model how to tap gently on the floor, legs, and in the air. Emphasize safety and self-control.
Guided Practice (10 minutes):
Use echo clapping/tapping to model simple rhythms (quarter notes, half notes).
Example: Tap-tap-rest-tap
Call out the pattern and model with your Boomwhacker. Have students echo.
Then switch to background music and have them tap to the steady beat. Encourage them to move side to side or walk in place to feel the rhythm in their bodies.
Group Pattern Challenge (5 minutes):
Divide the class into color groups (red Boomwhackers, yellow Boomwhackers, etc.).
Assign each color a rhythm pattern and cue them to play when it’s their turn.
This promotes teamwork and turn-taking while reinforcing rhythm patterns.
Cool Down & Reflection (5 minutes):
Have students place Boomwhackers on the floor. Lead a few deep breaths and simple stretches.
Ask:
– “How did your Boomwhacker make music?”
– “What did it feel like to move with the beat?”
Celebrate their effort and wrap up with a positive affirmation:
“I can move, I can listen, I can keep the beat!”
Why This Lesson Works
Teaching rhythm with Boomwhackers gives students a multisensory entry point into both dance and music. It’s especially effective for students who are still developing language and motor skills. The movement keeps their bodies engaged, and the rhythm helps them learn how to work together.
In my experience, using tools like Boomwhackers has also helped with behavior management. When students have something active to do with their hands that’s part of the learning goal, they stay focused longer. It also gives shy or less verbal students a way to participate meaningfully.
More Resources for Dance Teachers
If you’re looking for more ways to bring movement and rhythm into your K–5 classroom, you might also enjoy:
- The 5 Elements of Dance: A Simple Framework for Powerful Movement in the K–5 Dance Classroom
- How to Plan a Cross-Curricular Dance Lesson
- What’s the Difference Between Teaching Dance in Public Schools vs. Private Studios?
- Tips for Beginner Dance Teachers
Final Thoughts
Kindergarteners are naturally rhythmic. They feel beats before they understand them. By giving them tools like Boomwhackers, we’re not just teaching rhythm, we’re empowering them to make music, move with intention, and build foundational skills they’ll carry with them through all the arts.
If you’re a public school dance teacher looking for something fresh and engaging, give this lesson a try. Your students might just surprise you mine certainly did.
Happy Dancing!
Taylor B
